There's a reason Charleston has been received such accolades as #1 city in the world, #1 city in the U.S., and friendliest city in the world. Once a best kept secret of a sleepy little town nestled on the coast of South Carolina, Charleston now boasts over 7 million visitors a year. It's no wonder with its historical charm, expansive and beautiful beaches, amazing food scene, and quintessential southern hospitality.
The best thing to do here is to tour historic Charleston! Notable places include The Battery, Charleston City Market, Waterfront Park, and Rainbow Row.
Delicious food abounds everywhere in Charleston. There are too many places to name! However, some hot spots you don't want to miss include the following:
39 Rue de Jean // French inspired, amazing atmosphere. Amazing nibbles include escargot and truffle pommes frites.
82 Queen // Lowcountry Cuisine staple. Grab a seat in the beautiful courtyard and have their award winning She Crab Soup
Poogan's Porch // Southern Cuisine. Open for dinner but also has a killer brunch and drink specials.
Hall's Chophouse // Charleston's notoriously fantastic restaurant for mouth watering steaks cooked to perfection.
Husk // Another Southern cuisine favorite and quaint and cozy upstairs bar.
Riverdogs Baseball game // If you are around in the spring and summer, catch the local Yankees affiliated minor league baseball game at the picturesque Joe Riley stadium.
Rooftop Bars // Charleston has some pretty epic rooftop bars including my two favorites, the Rooftop Bar at Vendue and Henry's Rooftop Bar. Other notable rooftops include Market Pavillion Rooftop Bar with poolside cocktails, Eleve at the Grand Bohemian Hotel, and Stars Rooftop Bar.
Shem Creek // Soak up the lowcountry feel in Mt. Pleasant dockside on an active shrimp boat laden creek. Good eats, great sunsets, and a nice park to walk around in for an evening stroll.
Harbor Cruise // Sunsets on the harbor are amazing and you are almost guaranteed to see some fun loving bottlenose dolphins! Check out Charleston Harbor Tours or Spirit Line Cruises for more info.
Catch a Play, Comedy Show, or Live Music // Charleston has a great artistic scene. Some of this may require planning ahead, but you get a great sense of local culture. Check out the historic Dock Street Theatre for plays, Charleston Music Hall for some fun music events, or Theatre 99 if you are in the mood for some improv.
You can't come to Charleston without touring around it's beautiful and charming downtown. Whether it's by a horse drawn carriage tour or by foot, you won't want to miss the antebellum mansions, the historic churches and buildings, and iconic vistas. Some notable places to see in downtown Charleston include:
Charleston City Market // Charleston's own semi open air market dating back from the early 1800s. Originally a place to buy your fresh meats, fish, and vegetables it now serves as a place to buy all things quintessential Charleston. From sweet grass baskets, to jewelry, clothing, sweet treats and everything in between the market has you covered!
Rainbow Row // As it's title implies, a pastel color popping row of historic Charleston homes. Highly instagram-able!
The Charleston Battery // Perfect sunset spot! Walk the oak tree lined pathways of White Point Gardens, take in the vistas of the Ashley and Cooper rivers aside the majestic antebellum mansions
Waterfront Park // Don't miss Charleston's famous pineapple fountain and take a moment to soak it all in on the riverside dock swing
Happy travels and may you enjoy the beautiful town of Charleston, SC!
Guide and Photos by Katie Fitts | Whispers of the Wando | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest
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